Narrative:

On climb out from mco, about 50 mi north of mco, vicinity ormond beach, level 4-5 thunderstorms projected to be in flight path. First officer asked for deviation east of WX, and ZJX (frequency 134.0) complied, issued direct cecil VOR when clear. As we approached the storm, it became evident that a deviation west of the WX would be safer, due to a large overhang and anvil from the storm heading to the northeast of the WX cell, which was not apparent to us prior to initial radio call to ZJX for permission to deviate. Attempted numerous calls to ZJX (134.0) to gain clearance to deviate west -- at least 6-8 calls, no response. It was evident that controller was working at least 1 other frequency besides ours, as we could hear his xmissions to other aircraft. I decided the safest course of action was to deviate west, due to proximity to storm cell. ZJX finally responded, told us to turn right immediately, which I declined since that would put us directly into level 4-5 cell. (No TCASII traffic was noticed.) we cleared the cell on the west side in about 2-3 mins before initiating a turn to the right, and able to proceed direct cecil VOR. The controller handed us off to the next frequency while I turned to the right, and ATC asked if the next controller would be advised of our emergency intent to deviation. I responded that we were in the turn to cecil, and clearing the WX. No further discussion of the deviation was needed with the next controller (still ZJX). Major factors: flight conditions - IMC, night. ATC -- inability to communicate -- center working too many frequencys to be effective.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A B737 MADE TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INSTRUCTED BY ARTCC CTLR DURING CRUISE WHILE CIRCUMNAVIGATING AROUND TSTM BUILD-UPS.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT FROM MCO, ABOUT 50 MI N OF MCO, VICINITY ORMOND BEACH, LEVEL 4-5 TSTMS PROJECTED TO BE IN FLT PATH. FO ASKED FOR DEV E OF WX, AND ZJX (FREQ 134.0) COMPLIED, ISSUED DIRECT CECIL VOR WHEN CLR. AS WE APCHED THE STORM, IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT A DEV W OF THE WX WOULD BE SAFER, DUE TO A LARGE OVERHANG AND ANVIL FROM THE STORM HDG TO THE NE OF THE WX CELL, WHICH WAS NOT APPARENT TO US PRIOR TO INITIAL RADIO CALL TO ZJX FOR PERMISSION TO DEVIATE. ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS CALLS TO ZJX (134.0) TO GAIN CLRNC TO DEVIATE W -- AT LEAST 6-8 CALLS, NO RESPONSE. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT CTLR WAS WORKING AT LEAST 1 OTHER FREQ BESIDES OURS, AS WE COULD HEAR HIS XMISSIONS TO OTHER ACFT. I DECIDED THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO DEVIATE W, DUE TO PROX TO STORM CELL. ZJX FINALLY RESPONDED, TOLD US TO TURN R IMMEDIATELY, WHICH I DECLINED SINCE THAT WOULD PUT US DIRECTLY INTO LEVEL 4-5 CELL. (NO TCASII TFC WAS NOTICED.) WE CLRED THE CELL ON THE W SIDE IN ABOUT 2-3 MINS BEFORE INITIATING A TURN TO THE R, AND ABLE TO PROCEED DIRECT CECIL VOR. THE CTLR HANDED US OFF TO THE NEXT FREQ WHILE I TURNED TO THE R, AND ATC ASKED IF THE NEXT CTLR WOULD BE ADVISED OF OUR EMER INTENT TO DEV. I RESPONDED THAT WE WERE IN THE TURN TO CECIL, AND CLRING THE WX. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE DEV WAS NEEDED WITH THE NEXT CTLR (STILL ZJX). MAJOR FACTORS: FLT CONDITIONS - IMC, NIGHT. ATC -- INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE -- CTR WORKING TOO MANY FREQS TO BE EFFECTIVE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.